Sharing Truth

A Study of the Covenants – Chapter 14 of 14

2011-02-17T23:34:00.002-05:00

by Chris Lee, published at Life Assurance Ministries website http://www.lifeassuranceministries.org/studies/covenants/index.html

The Law of Christ

I have spent a great deal of time thinking and praying about the topic discussed in the last part of our study. In the past, I have been unsure as to the best way to approach the discussion of the Law of Christ. I believe that the Holy Spirit, working through God’s Word, has blessed me with a personal “ah-ha” moment in regards to this topic. As I was thinking and praying over this, a particular Biblical passage came to mind as well as a mental picture of a diagram to help illustrate the point.

We all agree that there is a “law” written on the hearts of New Covenant Christians. However, there seems to be abundant confusion as to what “law” is actually written on our heart. The word “law” is used in many different ways in scripture. Even on the Former Adventist Fellowship Forum we tend to use the word in multiple ways without defining exactly what “law” we are talking about. It would be most helpful to observe the way the word is used in scripture and how it is applied to different groups.

As I have been considering the various ways the word “law” is used, a passage found in I Corinthians has come to mind repeatedly. Paul is describing how he in some cases restrains and in other cases exercises his Christian liberty. He does all this to win others to the Gospel.

1 Corinthians 9:19-23 (NASB)

¹⁹ For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I may win more.
²⁰ To the Jews I became as a Jew, so that I might win Jews; to those who are under the Law, as under the Law though not being myself under the Law, so that I might win those who are under the Law;
²¹ to those who are without law, as without law, though not being without the law of God but under the law of Christ, so that I might win those who are without law.
²² To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak; I have become all things to all men, so that I may by all means save some.
²³ I do all things for the sake of the gospel, so that I may become a fellow partaker of it.

To briefly summarize Paul’s points:

When Paul was with Jews who were under the Mosaic Law, he acted as if he were under the Mosaic Law (v.20).
Paul, as a New Covenant Christian, was not under the Mosaic Law (v.20).
When Paul was with Gentiles who were never under the Mosaic Law, he did not observe the Mosaic Law either (v.21).
New Covenant Christians are not without “the Law of God” (v.21).
New Covenant Christians are under “the Law of Christ” (v.21).

So we see Paul using the word “law” in three different ways:

I. The Mosaic Law

Ethnic Jews were under this law.
It was only in place from Sinai to the cross (Gal. 3:15-25).
People who lived before Sinai were not under this law (Rom. 5:12-14).
Gentiles were never under this law (1 Cor. 9:21, Rom. 4:12-15).
New Covenant Christians are not under this law (1 Cor. 9:20, Rom. 6:14, Gal. 5:18).

II. The Law of God

There is an eternal transcendent law that is defined by God’s very being. It is who and what He is. All that is consistent with God’s nature is lawful. All that is against God’s nature is sin.
All creatures at all times have been and always will be subject to this ultimate law because they are creatures and God is the Creator.
All those who fall short of this eternal law are condemned (see the first 5 chapters of Romans, especially chapters 1-3 for biblical support for points II.a.-c.).

III. The Law of Christ

This law is variously referred to in the New Testament as “The Law of Christ” (1 Cor. 9:21, Gal. 6:2),
“The Law of the Spirit” (Rom. 8:2),
“The Law of Liberty” (James 1:25, 2:12),
“The Perfect Law” (James 1:25), and
“The Royal Law” (James 2:8).
This is the law that New Covenant Christians live under.

We can represent this information using a simple diagram:

At the very top is a line representing “The Law of God”. The arrows point to infinity in both directions to illustrate that “The Law of God” is eternal and transcendent. This law transcends time and creation because it is defined by the eternal being of God. All creatures at all times have always been under this eternal law and always will be.

The very bottom line represents the progression of world history, from creation to the end of time as we know it. We see that from the time of Adam to Moses (Sinai) the Mosaic Law was not yet in effect. None the less sinners were still condemned by God’s eternal transcendent law (Rom. 5:12-14).

From Sinai to the cross the Law of Moses was in effect, but post cross it is no longer in effect (Gal. 3:15-25, Heb. 8:13). The Mosaic Law was holy just and good in that it was a shadow of God’s eternal transcendent Law. The Mosaic Law pointed to God’s ultimate law, but it was not in and of itself the ultimate law, merely a representation of it.

New Covenant Christians who live post cross do not live under the Mosaic Law. Christian believers live under a better covenant with a better mediator, better promises, and a better law. Moses was a mediator between God and Israel, but Christ is the ultimate mediator between God and man. Moses was used to reveal aspects of God, but Jesus Christ is the ultimate revelation of God to man. Moses was given a law that came with glory, but Jesus Christ is the ultimate law giver. The Law of Christ comes with glory that far surpasses the Mosaic Law. Just as Jesus is the greatest revelation of God, so the Law of Christ is the greatest revelation of God’s eternal transcendent law.

While New Covenant Christians are not under the Decalogue, they are under the commandments of The Law of Christ. We are told in scripture that those who have faith in Christ will keep His commandments:

Revelation 14:12 (NASB)

¹² Here is the perseverance of the saints who keep the commandments (entole) of God and their faith in Jesus.

Although John does not define these commandments (entole) in Revelation, he does so in his other books.

1 John 3:23 (NASB)

²³ This is His commandment (entole), that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He commanded us.

John 13:34 (NASB)

³⁴ "A new commandment (entole) I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.

We also see several other places in scripture were the commandments contained in the Law of Christ are given. We also see that these commandments are the ultimate fulfillment of the law. Not only do they fulfill the Mosaic Law, but they transcend the Mosaic Law fulfilling the Law of Christ as well. These commandments are the greatest revelation of the eternal transcendent law of God.

Matthew 7:12 (NASB)

¹² "In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

Matthew 22:37-39 (NASB)

³⁷ And He said to him, " 'YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.'
³⁸ "This is the great and foremost commandment.
³⁹ "The second is like it, 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.'

Romans 13:8-10 (NASB)

⁸ Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law.
⁹ For this, "YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY, YOU SHALL NOT MURDER, YOU SHALL NOT STEAL, YOU SHALL NOT COVET," and if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this saying, "YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF."
¹⁰ Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

Galatians 5:14 (NASB)

¹⁴ For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, "YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF."

Galatians 6:2 (NASB)

² Bear one another's burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.

But how are the Law of Christ and the lofty commandments that accompany it written upon the hearts of New Covenant believers? The only way this could happen is if God Himself were to indwell us, then and only then could the eternal transcendent Law of God be within us. It is an awe inspiring truth to realize that this is exactly what God has done through the person of the Holy Spirit. Not only are we sealed eternally for salvation by the Spirit, but we are given new birth, a regenerate spirit that can commune with God’s Spirit. By this sovereign gracious act of God we are given the very mind of Christ through the indwelling presence of the Spirit.

1 Corinthians 2:14-16 (NASB)

¹⁴ But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised.
¹⁵ But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no one.
¹⁶ For WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, THAT HE WILL INSTRUCT HIM? But we have the mind of Christ.

Through the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit it can truly be said that the Law of Christ is written upon our hearts. No one needs to tell us to know the Lord because we know Him in the most intimate of ways. We begin to see sin as He sees it. We begin to be transformed into the very likeness of Christ. Though the presence of the Sprit in the hearts of New Covenant believers, the prophecy has been fulfilled:

Hebrews 8:7-13 (NASB)

⁷ For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion sought for a second.
⁸ For finding fault with them, He says, "BEHOLD, DAYS ARE COMING, SAYS THE LORD, WHEN I WILL EFFECT A NEW COVENANT WITH THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL AND WITH THE HOUSE OF JUDAH;
⁹ NOT LIKE THE COVENANT WHICH I MADE WITH THEIR FATHERS ON THE DAY WHEN I TOOK THEM BY THE HAND TO LEAD THEM OUT OF THE LAND OF EGYPT; FOR THEY DID NOT CONTINUE IN MY COVENANT, AND I DID NOT CARE FOR THEM, SAYS THE LORD.
¹⁰ "FOR THIS IS THE COVENANT THAT I WILL MAKE WITH THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL AFTER THOSE DAYS, SAYS THE LORD: I WILL PUT MY LAWS INTO THEIR MINDS, AND I WILL WRITE THEM ON THEIR HEARTS. AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE.
¹¹ "AND THEY SHALL NOT TEACH EVERYONE HIS FELLOW CITIZEN, AND EVERYONE HIS BROTHER, SAYING, 'KNOW THE LORD,' FOR ALL WILL KNOW ME, FROM THE LEAST TO THE GREATEST OF THEM.
¹² "FOR I WILL BE MERCIFUL TO THEIR INIQUITIES, AND I WILL REMEMBER THEIR SINS NO MORE."
¹³ When He said, "A new covenant," He has made the first obsolete. But whatever is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to disappear.

Truly we have been given a New Covenant that is better in every way. It has a better Mediator, better promises, better signs, and a better law. The Old Covenant with its old law is obsolete. We are so blessed to live on this side of the cross. Let us never turn back to the shadows now that we have the substance, Jesus Christ.

This concludes our study of the covenants. I hope that it has been helpful and that you will spend time prayerfully studying through the passages and books we have touched upon. May the Lord Jesus grant you wisdom and understanding. May the Holy Spirit protect you from falsehood, and illuminate Truth. May the Father bless you and keep you in the joy of the Lord as you study and apply these things.

A Study of the Covenants – Chapter 13 of 14

2011-02-17T23:22:00.002-05:00

by Chris Lee, published at Life Assurance Ministries website http://www.lifeassuranceministries.org/studies/covenants/index.html

The Seal of God

In Chapter 12 we studied through Hebrews 3 and 4 and learned that we enter God’s true rest (sabbatimos) through faith in Jesus Christ. We enter that rest, not on a certain day of the week, but today and every day. Jesus is our sabbatimos rest. Jesus is the reality that the Sabbath day (sabbaton) only pointed to.

So if Jesus Himself is our Sabbath rest, what about the teaching many of us grew up with that the Sabbath day is the Seal of God? We’ve all heard the following passage in Revelation:

Revelation 9:3-4 (NASB)

³ Then out of the smoke came locusts upon the earth, and power was given them, as the scorpions of the earth have power.
⁴ They were told not to hurt the grass of the earth, nor any green thing, nor any tree, but only the men who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads.

Doesn’t Revelation teach that the seal of God is the Sabbath day? Actually there’s no hint of any such thing in this passage or anywhere in Revelation. We’re simply not told what the Seal of God is in Revelation. Fortunately, we don’t have to guess who the seal of God upon New Covenant Christians is. New Covenant Christians had already been told, more than once, in earlier books who the seal of God upon them was. Read the following passage and determine who God’s seal upon us is:

2 Corinthians 1:21-22 (NASB)

²¹ Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and anointed us is God,
²² who also sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our hearts as a pledge.

God has given us the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit as a pledge of salvation and eternal life. It is not a day of the week that seals us, but the person of the Holy Spirit. It is not a ceremonial shadow that seals us, but God the Spirit. Now let’s turn to the book of Ephesians.

Ephesians 1:13-14 (NASB)

¹³ In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise,
¹⁴ who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God's own possession, to the praise of His glory.

Again, we see that we are sealed with the Holy Spirit. Only God Himself can guarantee the promise of salvation through faith. A day has no power to do this. Let’s look further in the same book.

Ephesians 4:30 (NASB)

³⁰ Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

So we can now see that we are sealed with the Holy Spirit and by the Holy Spirit guaranteeing our redemption. A day of the week does not guarantee our salvation, only the Seal of God in our hearts can do that. We also have just a hint of what the “mark of the beast” might be. It’s not a day of the week, but a rejection of the Spirit.

Now I have heard some object that despite what the Bible says the Holy Spirit cannot be God’s seal upon us because man-made seals were inanimate objects. But this argument doesn’t hold up because God’s seal upon us is not a man-made seal. Our sovereign God can seal us in any way he chooses. How wonderfully mind-blowing it is to realize that He has chosen to seal us with Himself. When our spirits are made alive in Christ, God the Spirit tabernacles in us. God’s very presence dwells within us guaranteeing the promise of eternal life with Him. He is the seal! This is the testimony of scripture.

What better seal could we ever hope for or ask for? Truly, we who live in the New Covenant age are blessed beyond all measure. But the promise of eternal life does not exhaust the treasure of blessings we are given through the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. Through the life changing presence of the Spirit we are also conformed to Christ. We pass out from under the Mosaic Law and are, through the power and presence of the Spirit, now conformed to a better law: the Law of Christ.

We will explore the Law of Christ in Chapter 14.

A Study of the Covenants – Chapter 12 of 14

2011-02-17T23:17:00.004-05:00

by Chris Lee, published at Life Assurance Ministries website http://www.lifeassuranceministries.org/studies/covenants/index.html

Hebrews 3:1 – 4:16

In Chapter 11 we saw that the written code and its regulations was taken out of the way and nailed to the cross. We saw that those things which were nailed to the cross included dietary laws, annual festival Sabbaths, monthly new moon Sabbaths, and the weekly Sabbath day (sabbaton). We saw that both animal sacrifices and the Sabbath were mere shadows, but the reality is found in Jesus Christ.

In Chapter 12, I would like to continue to explore the biblical concept of Jesus Christ as the fulfillment of the Sabbath shadow. We will examine two key chapters in Hebrews that present Jesus as our true Sabbath rest.

The book of Hebrews was written to Jewish Christians who were being persecuted by their fellow Jews because of their belief in Jesus as the Messiah. These Hebrew Believers were sorely tempted to turn back to their Jewish roots and practices. The author of Hebrews writes to warn them against turning back and to remind them of how much better Jesus is than all the Old Covenant shadows. The writer methodically goes through nearly all the major shadows in the Old Covenant and explains how Jesus fulfills them and surpasses them. In chapters 3 and 4 the writer tackles the Sabbath shadow and shows how Christ fulfilled it.

Hebrews 3:1-6 (NASB)

¹ Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the Apostle and High Priest of our confession;
² He was faithful to Him who appointed Him, as Moses also was in all His house.
³ For He has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses, by just so much as the builder of the house has more honor than the house.
⁴ For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God.
⁵ Now Moses was faithful in all His house as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken later;
⁶ but Christ was faithful as a Son over His house—whose house we are, if we hold fast our confidence and the boast of our hope firm until the end.

Let’s not miss what the author of Hebrews is strongly implying here. Moses is representative of the entire Old Covenant Mosaic Law. The author is saying that Moses was just a servant, but Jesus is a Son. Jesus is better than Moses. Jesus is not on an equal plane with the Mosaic Law, but transcends the Old Covenant Mosaic Law.

Hebrews 3:7-11 (NASB)

⁷ Therefore, just as the Holy Spirit says, "TODAY IF YOU HEAR HIS VOICE,
⁸ DO NOT HARDEN YOUR HEARTS AS WHEN THEY PROVOKED ME, AS IN THE DAY OF TRIAL IN THE WILDERNESS,
⁹ WHERE YOUR FATHERS TRIED Me BY TESTING Me, AND SAW MY WORKS FOR FORTY YEARS.
¹⁰ "THEREFORE I WAS ANGRY WITH THIS GENERATION, AND SAID, 'THEY ALWAYS GO ASTRAY IN THEIR HEART, AND THEY DID NOT KNOW MY WAYS';
¹¹ AS I SWORE IN MY WRATH, 'THEY SHALL NOT ENTER MY REST.' "

Even after God led the Children of Israel out of Egypt, they still did not enter His rest. Even though they kept the Sabbaths for forty years while they wandered, they still did not enter God’s true rest. But God is calling His people into His true rest and He is calling them “TODAY”; not Saturday, not Sunday, not Monday, but TODAY! We see the first use of “today” in verse 7, but we will see it several more times throughout the passage.

Hebrews 3:12-19 (NASB)

¹² Take care, brethren, that there not be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart that falls away from the living God.
¹³ But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called "Today," so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.
¹⁴ For we have become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our assurance firm until the end,
¹⁵ while it is said, "TODAY IF YOU HEAR HIS VOICE, DO NOT HARDEN YOUR HEARTS, AS WHEN THEY PROVOKED ME."
¹⁶ For who provoked Him when they had heard? Indeed, did not all those who came out of Egypt led by Moses?
¹⁷ And with whom was He angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness?
¹⁸ And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who were disobedient?
¹⁹ So we see that they were not able to enter because of unbelief.

In verses 13 and 15 we again see the focus on entering God’s rest “today”. It was not failure to keep a certain day that caused the Children of Israel to fail to enter God’s rest. They were keeping the Sabbaths. It was unbelief that kept them out of God’s true rest.

Hebrews 4:1-5 (NASB)

¹ Therefore, let us fear if, while a promise remains of entering His rest, any one of you may seem to have come short of it.
² For indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as they also; but the word they heard did not profit them, because it was not united by faith in those who heard.
³ For we who have believed enter that rest, just as He has said, "AS I SWORE IN MY WRATH, THEY SHALL NOT ENTER MY REST," although His works were finished from the foundation of the world.
⁴ For He has said somewhere concerning the seventh day: "AND GOD RESTED ON THE SEVENTH DAY FROM ALL HIS WORKS";
⁵ and again in this passage, "THEY SHALL NOT ENTER MY REST."

So we see that there is still a promise of entering God’s rest, but we only enter it through faith. That’s the Good News! That’s the Gospel! The Sabbath was only a physical shadow of the spiritual rest that we would be given through faith in Christ. In Christ, the perfect spiritual rest that Adam and Eve lost when they sinned has now been restored.

God’s creative works were finished in six days and on the seventh “day” (yom) he rested from His creative work. God is still in that rest today. God has never ceased His rest. Unlike the other six days, the seventh “day” (yom) of creation had no evening or morning, no end. God is still in the seventh “day” (yom).

Adam and Eve would have remained in the rest of God if they had not sinned. The children of Israel could have entered that rest if they had believed. The Israelites were given a ceremonial symbol of that rest, but they failed to comprehend who it pointed to. You and I are being called into that rest today through faith in Jesus Christ. We are not being called into a shadow, but into the reality. We are being invited back into the spiritual rest of Eden.

Hebrews 4:6-7 (NASB)

⁶ Therefore, since it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly had good news preached to them failed to enter because of disobedience,
⁷ He again fixes a certain day, "Today," saying through David after so long a time just as has been said before, "TODAY IF YOU HEAR HIS VOICE, DO NOT HARDEN YOUR HEARTS."

Let’s note again that this rest is not a certain day of the week. It’s not Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, or Saturday. It’s TODAY! It’s right now, every day!

Hebrews 4:8-11 (NASB)

⁸ For if Joshua had given them rest, He would not have spoken of another day after that.
⁹ So there remains a Sabbath [sabbatismos] rest for the people of God.
¹⁰ For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His.
¹¹ Therefore let us be diligent to enter that rest, so that no one will fall, through following the same example of disobedience.

Even after the Children of Israel entered the Promised Land under the leadership of Joshua they still did not enter the true rest of God. The Promised Land, like the Sabbath, was only a shadow of the rest that God wanted to restore to people. There is still a rest for us to enter, but it’s not a certain piece of land or a certain day of the week. It is the spiritual rest that was lost at Eden and only restored through faith in Christ.

In verse 9 the writer coins a new Greek word to describe this rest, sabbatismos. Sabbatismos means a Sabbath-like rest. Notice that the writer does not use the Greek word for the weekly Sabbath day “sabbaton”. Instead he refers to a Sabbath-like rest. We are not being invited to enter the weekly Sabbath day (sabbaton), but the eternal rest of God (sabbatismos). We are not being asked to rest for one day out of the week, but to rest eternally in Christ and in His finished work.

We’re told in verse 10 that the only way we can enter God’s true rest is to first rest from our own works. If we continue trying to enter God’s rest through our works, then we are being just as disobedient and are lacking in faith just as much as the Israelites. Like the Hebrew believers this letter was written to, we cannot turn back to the Old Covenant which was a covenant of works. We must rest, through faith, in the finished work of Jesus.

Hebrews 4:12-16 (NASB)

¹² For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
¹³ And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.
¹⁴ Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.
¹⁵ For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.
¹⁶ Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Jesus is our high priest. He is the fulfillment of all the shadows in the Old Covenant. He is better than the shadows and transcends them all. In Him we can have confidence to approach the very throne of God and enter His presence even as the Old Covenant High priest approached the Ark with its mercy seat. Everything in the Old Covenant pointed to Christ. Everything in the Old Covenant was fulfilled in Him, even the Sabbath.

So if the Sabbath was only a shadow that is now fulfilled in Christ, can it possibly be true that a day of the week is God’s seal on New Covenant Believers? Most of us were taught this concept growing up and accepted it without question. But what does scripture really say about on this topic?

We’ll explore this further in Chapter 13.

A Study of the Covenants – Chapter 11 of 14

2011-02-17T23:06:00.001-05:00

by Chris Lee, published at Life Assurance Ministries website http://www.lifeassuranceministries.org/studies/covenants/index.html

Colossians 2:13-17

In Chapter 10 of our study we saw how Paul addressed the issue of holy days in the Church at Rome. We saw that, for the New Covenant Christian, the observance of special days is a matter of personal choice that should not divide the Church. One person might consider one day more special than another, while another person considers every day alike. Whichever way a person chooses, it should not be a matter of judgment against others. It’s a personal choice, not an obligation or requirement for Christians.

In Chapter 11 I would like to examine how Paul addressed a different situation in the Church at Colosse. Here the situation was different than in Rome. In Rome, Jewish and gentile Christians were learning to live together in love and needed basic instruction on what things were within the realm of Christian freedom. The Church in Colosse was largely gentile, but was being infiltrated by a few false teachers.

Among the heresies these false teachers were spreading were the heresies that New Covenant Christians were required to keep food laws, observe annual festival Sabbaths, monthly new moon Sabbaths, and the weekly Sabbath day.

Paul addresses these heresies in a much more firm way when writing to the Colossians:

Colossians 2:13-15 (NASB)

¹³ When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions,
¹⁴ having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.
¹⁵ When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him.

Jesus Christ canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, or as the NIV translates the Greek, “the written code with its regulations”. Jesus Christ took the written code and it’s regulations out of the way by nailing it to the cross. Now I have heard those of a sabbatarian persuasion protest, “Yes, but not the Sabbath day! The Sabbath day was never taken out of the way and nailed to the cross!” But what does inspired scripture say about this? Paul uses an important transitional word “oun”, usually translated as “therefore” or “then” or “so then” to transition to verse 16. By using this transitional word, Paul is telling us that the following things in verse 16 were taken out of the way, nailed to the cross by Christ, and no one should judge on the basis of these things any longer.

Colossians 2:16-17 (NASB)

¹⁶ Therefore no one is to act as your judge in regard to food or drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day—
¹⁷ things which are a mere shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ.

Paul uses a familiar sequence to describe all the prescribed Sabbaths. This sequence is used in either ascending or descending order throughout scripture, but it always encompasses all the Jewish Sabbaths; annual, monthly, and weekly Sabbaths. The gist of the argument that Paul is making is this; Christ nailed the written code to the cross, therefore the following shadows have been taken out of the way: food laws, annual festival Sabbaths, monthly new moon Sabbaths, and the weekly Sabbath day.

Now, I have heard some sabbatarians argue that Paul is not referring to the weekly Sabbath here, but only to what sabbatarians refer to as “ceremonial Sabbaths”, meaning the annual festival Sabbaths and the monthly new moon Sabbaths. But this argument does not hold up to scrutiny for three reasons:

1. When this familiar sequence is used in scripture it is used to encompass all the prescribed Sabbaths, not just the annual and monthly Sabbaths. This sequence always includes the weekly Sabbath day as well.

2. To insist that the weekly Sabbath day is excluded from Paul’s statement turns his sentence into redundant nonsense. Such an assertion would make the Apostle Paul say, “Therefore no one is to act as your judge in regard to food or drink or in respect to a festival Sabbath or a new moon Sabbath or a festival Sabbath day or a new moon Sabbath day.” This makes no sense at all. Why would Paul mention the annual festival Sabbaths and new moon Sabbaths, and then refer to them again by saying “or a Sabbath day”? Paul is not being redundant; he is listing all three types of Sabbaths; annual festival, monthly new moon, and weekly day.

3. The Greek word Paul used for “Sabbath day” is “sabbaton”. “Sabbaton” is translated as “Sabbath” 61 times in the New Testament. All sabbatarians would agree that the other 60 times all refer to the weekly Sabbath day without fail. Only here in Colossians 2 would sabbatarians want to argue that “sabbaton” no longer means the weekly Sabbath day. This is highly inconsistent. Upon what linguistic basis should “sabbaton” mean something different here? This is merely an attempt to avoid and deny the plain teaching of scripture.

There does not seem to be any good contextual, logical, or linguistic reason to understand Paul’s statement to mean anything other than that ALL the Sabbaths; annual, monthly, and weekly Sabbath day were taken out of the way and were nailed to the cross. All were only shadows of Jesus Christ and all were completely fulfilled in Him. Jesus is the substance, not the shadow. This is consistent with what is said in scripture about other Old Covenant rituals.

Hebrews 10:1 (NASB)

¹ For the Law, since it has only a shadow of the good things to come and not the very form of things, can never, by the same sacrifices which they offer continually year by year, make perfect those who draw near.

Sabbath observance is in the same category as animal sacrifices. It was only a shadow, not the very form of things, not the substance. Because we now have the substance, Jesus, there is no need to continue to cling to shadows like Sabbath observance or offering animal sacrifices. Now that the real thing has come, continuing to cling to shadows is a form of spiritual adultery.

This reminds me of an illustration from Pastor J. Mark Martin. Imagine that your spouse has been gone for a very long time and all you have had is a picture to help you think of him/her. You go to the airport and he/she gets off the plane. You go running towards him/her, but when you get there you fall on the ground and start kissing his/her shadow and trying to hug the shadow. You start saying, “Oh I love you shadow, I love you so much shadow!” He/she would probably look at you like you were nuts. He/She would probably say, “Hey! I’m right here! Love me, not my shadow!” If you persisted in clinging to the shadow they would probably get pretty frustrated with you. In fact, if you kept trying to make love to the shadow instead of your actual spouse, you would be engaging in a form of adultery.

In order to truly embrace Jesus, we must first relinquish our grip on the shadow.

In Chapter 12 we will continue to explore what scripture has to say about Christ as our true Sabbath rest, the fulfillment of the shadow.

A Study of the Covenants – Chapter 10 of 14

2011-02-17T22:57:00.001-05:00

by Chris Lee, published at Life Assurance Ministries website http://www.lifeassuranceministries.org/studies/covenants/index.html

Romans 14:1-6

In Chapter 9 we saw that the promise of the New Covenant is eternal life. This promise is by faith alone. We also saw that the old entry sign, circumcision, has been replaced by a new entry sign, baptism. We further saw that there is a new repeatable sign, the Lord’s Supper.

So this raises the question of how we should regard the repeatable sign of the Old Covenant. Are signs from the Old Covenant required for New Covenant Christians in addition to the signs of the New Covenant? Fortunately, the Bible is not silent on this matter. The fledgling Church was given inerrant inspired teaching in this matter.

In Chapter 10 I would like to look at a passage in Romans that addresses the question of observing holy days. The Roman Church was a mixed church made up partly of Jews living in Rome who had accepted Jesus as Messiah and partly of gentile Romans who had come to Christ. As you can imagine there were some tensions as cultures clashed and as the Old Covenant began to give way to the New Covenant. Many Jewish Christians were clinging to their customs of observing Old Covenant annual feast Sabbaths, New Moon Sabbaths, and the weekly Sabbath. In addition, they were clinging to Old Covenant food laws. The gentiles, who were not circumcised, had never entered the Old Covenant and did not observe holy days or food laws. These differences were dividing the Church and they needed direction on how these differences should be handled.

It is in this climate that the Apostle Paul wrote the book of Romans under the divine inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Now if gentile Christians were required to observe any Sabbaths (annual, monthly, or weekly) or if they were required to observe food laws, this would have been the perfect time for the Apostle to say so. There was obviously a debate in the Church and Paul had the perfect opportunity here to set the record straight for the entire Church age. Paul’s inspired direction clarified the situation not only for the Romans, but for all New Covenant believers who would come after.

Romans 14:1-6 (NASB)

¹ Now accept the one who is weak in faith, but not for the purpose of passing judgment on his opinions.
² One person has faith that he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats vegetables only.
³ The one who eats is not to regard with contempt the one who does not eat, and the one who does not eat is not to judge the one who eats, for God has accepted him.
⁴ Who are you to judge the servant of another? To his own master he stands or falls; and he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.
⁵ One person regards one day above another, another regards every day alike. Each person must be fully convinced in his own mind.
⁶ He who observes the day, observes it for the Lord, and he who eats, does so for the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who eats not, for the Lord he does not eat, and gives thanks to God.

Paul could have taken this opportunity to tell the gentiles that they really were required to observe Old Covenant Sabbaths, but he did not do so because it was not true. Instead Paul sought peace in the Church by saying that the observance of any holy days is purely a personal matter, not an obligation. If a person decides to observe a particular day, then they’re doing it for the Lord and that’s okay. If a person decides to regard everyday as just the same, that’s okay too!

For New Covenant Christians the observance of days is a non-issue. It’s not a salvation issue. It’s not a sanctification issue. It’s not a holiness issue. It’s not an obedience issue. It’s not a truth issue. It’s not an issue at all. At most, it’s a personal choice. Paul stresses that we are not to judge other’s based on their personal choice. That cut both ways for both Jews and Gentiles. The Jews weren’t supposed to judge the gentiles for not observing food laws and not observing holy days. The gentiles were not supposed to judge those who were weaker in faith (the Jewish Christians) for continuing in their traditions of food laws and observing Sabbaths. There was to be harmony and unity in the Church even though there were different practices.

The only thing that would break that unity is if someone began to teach that these Old Covenant traditions were actually required for New Covenant Christians. Such teaching requires a stronger response.

In Chapter 11 we will see how the Apostle Paul handled such false teaching.

A Study of the Covenants – Chapter 9 of 14

2011-02-17T22:46:00.001-05:00

by Chris Lee, published at Life Assurance Ministries website http://www.lifeassuranceministries.org/studies/covenants/index.html

The Promise, Condition, and Sign of the New Covenant

In Chapter 8 of our study we saw that the Old Covenant is obsolete. The New Covenant is not like the Old Covenant. Christians have been given a New Covenant with a better Mediator and better promises. Tonight I would like to explore the New Covenant further by looking at the promise of the New. We will also look for the other two major components in most covenants, the condition and the sign.

Read through the following verse and try to determine what the promise is:

John 3:16 (NASB)

¹⁶ "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

The promise we receive in Jesus is eternal life. But what is this covenant promise based on? Is it based on faith like the Abrahamic covenant or is it based on works like the Old Covenant? To whom do the promises of this covenant apply? Do all humans receive eternal life or is the promise only applied to some?

These are the questions I am asking when I speak of a “condition” for the New Covenant. However, in speaking of a “condition” I am not in anyway suggesting that there is anything at all that a person can do to earn or deserve the promise of the New Covenant. The New Covenant is a unilateral covenant within the Triune God and no person can do anything to merit having a part in the covenant. Benefiting from the promise of the New Covenant is by grace alone. It is a gift. If you find the word “condition” objectionable, please feel free to substitute the question, “Upon what is this covenant based and to whom do the promises apply?”

John 3:14-18 (NASB)

¹⁴ "As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up;
¹⁵ so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life.
¹⁶ "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
¹⁷ "For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.
¹⁸ "He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

Romans 3:21-22 (NASB)

²¹ But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets,
²² even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction;

Romans 10:8-13 (NASB)

⁸ But what does it say? "THE WORD IS NEAR YOU, IN YOUR MOUTH AND IN YOUR HEART"—that is, the word of faith which we are preaching,
⁹ that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved;
¹⁰ for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.
¹¹ For the Scripture says, "WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED."
¹² For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him;
¹³ for "WHOEVER WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED."

The condition of the New Covenant is faith/belief. Again, if the word “condition” is objectionable to you, please transpose this to say, “The New Covenant is based upon faith, not works. The promises of the New Covenant are only applied to those who are of faith.” The main idea here is that the New Covenant is not like the Old Covenant which was a covenant of works. The New Covenant is like the Abrahamic covenant which was based on faith alone, not works.

So we have the promise and the condition. That just leaves the sign of the New Covenant. The New Covenant has a new sign, not like the sign of the Old Covenant. Examine these verses for the sign of the New Covenant:

Mark 14:22-24 (NASB)

²² While they were eating, He took some bread, and after a blessing He broke it, and gave it to them, and said, "Take it; this is My body."
²³ And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, and they all drank from it.
²⁴ And He said to them, "This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many.

Luke 22:19-20 (NASB)

¹⁹ And when He had taken some bread and given thanks, He broke it and gave it to them, saying, "This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me."
²⁰ And in the same way He took the cup after they had eaten, saying, "This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in My blood.

1 Corinthians 11:23-26 (NASB)

²³ For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus in the night in which He was betrayed took bread;
²⁴ and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, "This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me."
²⁵ In the same way He took the cup also after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me."
²⁶ For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until He comes.

The repeatable sign of the New Covenant is the Lord’s Supper. Every time we observe this sign we proclaim the fact that we are in the New Covenant purchased through the blood of Christ. Every time we eat of the bread and drink the wine we testify that Jesus is our suzerain Lord and savior.

Interestingly enough, the New Covenant also has a new entry sign:

Colossians 2:11-12 (NASB)

¹¹ and in Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ;
¹² having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.

Baptism replaces circumcision as the entry sign to the New Covenant. Circumcision was only a shadow of what was to come. Baptism is an outward acknowledgement of what Christ has done once for all. There is no reason to continue the entry sign of the Old Covenant because we are not under the Old Covenant. The Old Covenant was replaced by a New and better covenant. The old entry sign was replaced by a new and better entry sign that witnesses to Christ’s complete work.

But all this leaves the questions of, “What about the repeatable sign of the Old Covenant? Should New Covenant Christians still be required to observe both the Old Covenant repeatable sign and the New Covenant repeatable sign? Are those who don’t observe the Old Covenant sign sinning, or being disobedient, or lacking in holiness? Should we try to correct New Covenant Christians who aren’t observing the Old Covenant sign?”

The Bible is not silent on these questions. We will explore them further in Chapter 10.

A Study of the Covenants – Chapter 8 of 14

2011-02-17T22:40:00.001-05:00

by Chris Lee, published at Life Assurance Ministries website http://www.lifeassuranceministries.org/studies/covenants/index.html

Hebrews Chapter 8: A New Covenant

The book of Hebrews was written to Jewish Christians who were undergoing hardship and persecution from other Jews. They were sorely tempted to turn again to their Jewish roots and customs. They were sorely tempted to turn back to the law and the things of the Old Covenant. Hebrews was written to encourage them to stay the course and to remind them of the superiority of Christ over all the shadows in the Old Testament.

The author of Hebrews spends several chapters discussing Christ as our high priest. Chapter 7 is devoted to showing how Christ is not from the order of Aaron, but of Melchizedek. The basic idea of this comparison is that the Aaronic priesthood was temporary, but Jesus’ priesthood is without end. This comparison leads naturally into a discussion of the Old and New Covenants in chapter 8. The Old Covenant was temporary, but the New Covenant is without end.

Hebrews 8:1-5 (NASB)

¹ Now the main point in what has been said is this: we have such a high priest, who has taken His seat at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens,
² a minister in the sanctuary and in the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, not man.
³ For every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices; so it is necessary that this high priest also have something to offer.
⁴ Now if He were on earth, He would not be a priest at all, since there are those who offer the gifts according to the Law;
⁵ who serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things, just as Moses was warned by God when he was about to erect the tabernacle; for, "SEE," He says, "THAT YOU MAKE all things ACCORDING TO THE PATTERN WHICH WAS SHOWN YOU ON THE MOUNTAIN."

Before we skip too quickly over this, let’s note that Christ’s priesthood and the gifts He brings are not according to the Law. Those things in the Law were only a shadow of what was to come, but the substance belongs to Christ. Jesus’ ministry is truly new; it’s not just a continuation of the same Old Covenant.

Hebrews 8:6 (NASB)

⁶ But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, by as much as He is also the mediator of a better covenant, which has been enacted on better promises.

Note that not only is Jesus’ ministry more excellent, but He is the new mediator of a new and better covenant. This New Covenant is better than the Old Covenant. The New Covenant is better than the Decalogue. The new covenant has better promises. It truly is new. It’s not just the same old covenant warmed up. It’s not just the ministry of condemnation, the Decalogue, transferred off stone and onto flesh. Such an idea is foreign to the text.

Hebrews 8:7 (NASB)

⁷ For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion sought for a second.

Now note that the Old Covenant was not faultless. Many want to say that the Decalogue is the ultimate law of God, but that does not square with the idea expressed here. The Decalogue was good and holy to be sure, but it was not the ultimate law that God would bring. All the Decalogue could do was to condemn. It couldn’t save and it couldn’t produce holiness. The Decalogue rightly pointed out the depravity of man and condemned them to death under the righteous wrath of God, but it had no power to change this wretched condition. A totally NEW covenant was required, not just some reworking of the Old Covenant; not just transferring the Decalogue from one place to another.

Hebrews 8:8-9 (NASB)

⁸ For finding fault with them, He says, "BEHOLD, DAYS ARE COMING, SAYS THE LORD, WHEN I WILL EFFECT A NEW COVENANT WITH THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL AND WITH THE HOUSE OF JUDAH;
9 NOT LIKE THE COVENANT WHICH I MADE WITH THEIR FATHERS ON THE DAY WHEN I TOOK THEM BY THE HAND TO LEAD THEM OUT OF THE LAND OF EGYPT; FOR THEY DID NOT CONTINUE IN MY COVENANT, AND I DID NOT CARE FOR THEM, SAYS THE LORD.

This couldn’t be clearer. The New Covenant really is new. It’s not like the Old Covenant, the Decalogue. Let me say it again for emphasis, the New Covenant is not like the Decalogue.

Hebrews 8:10-11 (NASB)

¹⁰"FOR THIS IS THE COVENANT THAT I WILL MAKE WITH THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL AFTER THOSE DAYS, SAYS THE LORD: I WILL PUT MY LAWS INTO THEIR MINDS, AND I WILL WRITE THEM ON THEIR HEARTS. AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE.
¹¹ "AND THEY SHALL NOT TEACH EVERYONE HIS FELLOW CITIZEN, AND EVERYONE HIS BROTHER, SAYING, 'KNOW THE LORD,' FOR ALL WILL KNOW ME, FROM THE LEAST TO THE GREATEST OF THEM.

There are many things that are new about this New Covenant. We will see later in our covenant study that God seals us with the Holy Spirit by actually putting Himself in our hearts! It is not the old Decalogue that God puts in our heart, but the third person of the Trinity. Because of this, scripture tells us that we have the very “mind of Christ” (I Cor. 2:16)! This is how God’s laws are written in our heart. We’re not talking about the Decalogue dwelling in our heart. That concept borders on sacrilege. We’re talking about the indwelling presence of God the Spirit.

The ultimate law of the universe is God Himself. God’s very nature, essence, or being is the very definition of righteousness and truth. Through the presence of the Holy Spirit we partake in the righteousness of God. No one needs to tell us “know the Lord” because we know Him in the most intimate of ways. We have His very righteousness within us through the person of the Spirit. The ultimate lawgiver of the universe dwells within us. We will explore what the Bible calls the “Law of Christ” or the “Law of Liberty” later in our study. Suffice it to say for now that the Decalogue is not, and never was, the ultimate law of God, it was only a shadow of what would come.

Hebrews 8:12 (NASB)

¹² "FOR I WILL BE MERCIFUL TO THEIR INIQUITIES, AND I WILL REMEMBER THEIR SINS NO MORE."

Here’s another contrast. The Decalogue was the ministry of death and the ministry of condemnation. The Decalogue highlighted sin and condemned all under the wrath of God. The Decalogue had absolutely no power to change this sorry state. Under the New Covenant our sins are remembered no more! That really is new!

Hebrews 8:13 (NASB)

¹³ When He said, "A new covenant," He has made the first obsolete. But whatever is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to disappear.

The New really is new and the Old really is obsolete, growing old, and ready to disappear. The Decalogue is obsolete. The Decalogue is growing old. The Decalogue is ready to disappear. The Decalogue no longer plays a role in the life of the regenerate believer. The Decalogue is obsolete because we now have the Holy Spirit, God Himself, dwelling in us. The Decalogue is obsolete because the Holy Spirit conforms us to the Law of Christ. The Decalogue is obsolete because we have a new covenant, a better covenant, a covenant that is not like the Decalogue. The Decalogue that came through Moses is obsolete because we have a new and better mediator, Jesus Christ Himself. Everything about the New Covenant is truly new and better. Even the promises Jesus Christ has given us are better promises.

In Chapter 9 we will explore the better promises of the new and better New Covenant.

A Study of the Covenants – Chapter 7 of 14

2011-02-17T22:33:00.001-05:00

by Chris Lee, published at Life Assurance Ministries website http://www.lifeassuranceministries.org/studies/covenants/index.html

Galatians Chapter 3 – The Intent of the Law

In Chapter 6 we saw that going back to the law is spiritual adultery. We are to die to the law so we can live for Christ by the Spirit. So what was the purpose of the law? Paul expounds upon the purpose of the law in Galatians chapter 3.

Galatians 3:1-5 (NASB)

¹ You foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified?
² This is the only thing I want to find out from you: did you receive the Spirit by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?
³ Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?
⁴ Did you suffer so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain?
⁵ So then, does He who provides you with the Spirit and works miracles among you, do it by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?

The believers in Galatia had been bewitched by false teachers who were telling them that they were obligated to keep parts of the Old Covenant, including holy days (see Gal. 4:8-11). Paul tells them that everything they have gone through for the faith is in vain if they now turn back to the law instead of continuing in the Spirit. In fact, he calls them foolish for turning back to the law. He now turns to Abraham who lived under a covenant of faith, not works, as an example.

Galatians 3:6-9 (NASB)

⁶ Even so Abraham BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS RECKONED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS.
⁷ Therefore, be sure that it is those who are of faith who are sons of Abraham.
⁸ The Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, "ALL THE NATIONS WILL BE BLESSED IN YOU."
⁹ So then those who are of faith are blessed with Abraham, the believer.

Gentile Christians, like those in Galatia, had something in common with Abraham; they were never under the Old Covenant. They were never required to observe holy days or any other part of the Old Covenant. Paul makes the point that those who are of faith are the true heirs of the Abrahamic promise, not those who are living by law. We are all justified in the same way as Abraham, through faith. We do not receive the blessings of God through the law, but by faith. Paul goes on to give a dire warning to those who want to be under the law.

Galatians 3:10-14 (NASB)

¹⁰ For as many as are of the works of the Law are under a curse; for it is written, "CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO DOES NOT ABIDE BY ALL THINGS WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF THE LAW, TO PERFORM THEM."
¹¹ Now that no one is justified by the Law before God is evident; for, "THE RIGHTEOUS MAN SHALL LIVE BY FAITH."
¹² However, the Law is not of faith; on the contrary, "HE WHO PRACTICES THEM SHALL LIVE BY THEM."
¹³ Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us—for it is written, "CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO HANGS ON A TREE"—
¹⁴ in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we would receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

Unless a person is able to keep the entire law perfectly, every bit of it from day one till death, they are cursed and are under the wrath of God. So obviously no one is going to be able to stand righteous before God through law-keeping. In fact, that is the exact antithesis of faith. The law is not of faith. But the Good News, the Gospel, is that Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law and from the wrath of God. Christ took the curse upon Himself and entirely fulfilled the law in His life and death. This made it possible for Gentiles to enter the blessings of Abraham even though they never received circumcision (entry sign of the Abrahamic Covenant) or kept Sabbath (repeatable sign of the Old Covenant). Christ fulfilled both covenants. He fulfilled the promises of both and accepted the curse of the latter. The gentiles were never under the Old Covenant. They entered a New Covenant and received the promise of the Spirit through faith alone.

Galatians 3:15-18 (NASB)

¹⁵ Brethren, I speak in terms of human relations: even though it is only a man's covenant, yet when it has been ratified, no one sets it aside or adds conditions to it.
¹⁶ Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say, "And to seeds," as referring to many, but rather to one, "And to your seed," that is, Christ.
¹⁷ What I am saying is this: the Law, which came four hundred and thirty years later, does not invalidate a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to nullify the promise.
¹⁸ For if the inheritance is based on law, it is no longer based on a promise; but God has granted it to Abraham by means of a promise.

Notice here that the true objects of the promises made to Abraham are Abraham and the coming Messiah. They were not necessarily promises to ethnic Israel per se. The fact that ethnic Israel was given the Old Covenant 430 years after Abraham doesn’t invalidate the promise made to Abraham and his seed (singular). The promise was not based on law or works. The law was only a temporary covenant that was added later. It had a beginning 430 years after Abraham and, for those of faith, an ENDING when the Messiah came and fulfilled the promise.

Galatians 3:19-22 (NASB)

¹⁹ Why the Law then? It was added because of transgressions, having been ordained through angels by the agency of a mediator, until the seed would come to whom the promise had been made.
²⁰ Now a mediator is not for one party only; whereas God is only one.
²¹ Is the Law then contrary to the promises of God? May it never be! For if a law had been given which was able to impart life, then righteousness would indeed have been based on law.
²² But the Scripture has shut up everyone under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.

So here we finally see the purpose of the law. It wasn’t given to invalidate previous promises, but to condemn us in sin and to vividly point out the need for a savior. As stated above, any failure at all puts us under the wrath of the righteous God of the universe. The law points out that no human mediator could ever save us from that wrath. Only God Himself can sovereignly save. The law illustrates like nothing else that we are dead in sin and there is absolutely no way we could ever be declared righteous by our own merit or works. The law proves beyond any shadow of a doubt that salvation must be by grace alone, through faith alone, in Jesus Christ alone. The law drives us to Christ and to His cross. But notice, it was only added UNTIL Christ. When we are in Christ we are no longer under the law.

Galatians 3:23-29 (NASB)

²³ But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, being shut up to the faith which was later to be revealed.
²⁴ Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith.
²⁵ But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.
²⁶ For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.
²⁷ For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.
²⁸ There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
²⁹ And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's descendants, heirs according to promise.

The Greek word “paidagogos”, which is translated as “tutor”, means “child-conductor”. It originally referred to the slave who conducted the boys from home to school. That was the purpose of the law. The law shows our need for a savior, drives us to Christ, and then ceases to have a function in the life of New Covenant Spirit-filled believers. We are no longer under a tutor! Let me say that again, WE ARE NO LONGER UNDER A TUTOR! The Bible could not be clearer on this. If we are of faith we no longer need the tutor. The law is not of faith and returning to the law is antithetical to life in the Spirit. It is a bewitchment! It is a foolish thing to return to the law.

This passage is also quite powerful proof that the law was only in effect for believers from the exodus to Christ (see verses 17 – 19). This passage should forever put to rest the idea that the law preexisted the exodus or that it continues to be a tutor or teacher for those who are living life in the Spirit.

In Chapter 8 time we will begin to explore the New Covenant and the implications of being under a covenant that is really new and different from the old.

A Study of the Covenants – Chapter 6 of 14

2011-02-17T22:26:00.001-05:00

by Chris Lee, published at Life Assurance Ministries website http://www.lifeassuranceministries.org/studies/covenants/index.html

Romans 7:1-6: An Illustration from Marriage

In Part V we studied a passage where Paul tackled head on the problem of the false teachers (Judaizers) in Galatia. We saw that the Bible teaches those who are under the Old Covenant given at Sinai are in slavery. Scripture tells us in no uncertain term to cast out the Old Covenant (the bondwoman) and those who promote it (her son). The Bible tells us that those who are under the New Covenant are free.

But what about keeping one foot in the Old Covenant and the other in the New Covenant? Should we continue to cling to the law just to be on the safe side? Doesn’t the law still have some hold on us? The Bible answers these questions in Romans chapter 7 using a truly apt illustration from marriage.

Romans 7:1-6 (NASB)

¹ Or do you not know, brethren (for I am speaking to those who know the law), that the law has jurisdiction over a person as long as he lives?
² For the married woman is bound by law to her husband while he is living; but if her husband dies, she is released from the law concerning the husband.
³ So then, if while her husband is living she is joined to another man, she shall be called an adulteress; but if her husband dies, she is free from the law, so that she is not an adulteress though she is joined to another man.
⁴ Therefore, my brethren, you also were made to die to the Law through the body of Christ, so that you might be joined to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God.
⁵ For while we were in the flesh, the sinful passions, which were aroused by the Law, were at work in the members of our body to bear fruit for death.
⁶ But now we have been released from the Law, having died to that by which we were bound, so that we serve in newness of the Spirit and not in oldness of the letter.

Reread this passage a couple of times slowly and carefully with prayer. Meditate upon what scripture is saying here.

If we were still under Old Covenant law, then it would be spiritual adultery to break any part of the Old Covenant or to join ourselves to a New Covenant. It’s like a marriage. You can only have one spouse at a time; anything else is adultery, that is, unless one of the spouses dies.

Christ fulfilled the law completely, both the righteous requirements and the penalty for disobedience (death). His perfect life and substitutionary death are credited to us. Because we are in Him, we die to the law he has already fulfilled, which allows us to live for Him.

The old marriage to the law is dissolved through Christ’s death. We are free from the law! We have been released from the law and joined to Christ. We are now Christ’s bride instead of being wed to the law. However, if we try and go back to the law, then we are committing adultery. We can’t live as Christ’s bride and cling to the law. If we do this we are the equivalent of spiritual prostitutes.

We are called to no longer live by the old letter that kills, but to serve in the newness of the Spirit. We cannot keep one foot in the Old Covenant and the other in the New Covenant and still be faithful to the one who bought us. The old marriage is dissolved. We have a new Husband and He wants us to live completely and totally for Him, unencumbered by past lovers. It’s time to let those lovers go and be faithful to Christ alone.

Other passages say very similar things.

Romans 8:1-2 (NASB)

¹ Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
² For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.

Galatians 5:18 (NASB)

¹⁸ But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law.

So if we’re to die to law and live by the Spirit, this raises the question of why the law was ever added in the first place.

We’ll explore that question in Chapter 7.

A Study of the Covenants – Chapter 5 of 14

2011-02-17T22:21:00.001-05:00

by Chris Lee, published at Life Assurance Ministries website http://www.lifeassuranceministries.org/studies/covenants/index.html

Galatians 4:21-31: Two Women, Two Covenants

In Chapter 4 we saw that the Bible calls the Old Covenant engraved on stone “the ministry of death”. The Bible states that the Old Covenant fades away. Finally, we saw that when the Old Covenant engraved on stone is read, a veil remains in place. That raises the question of how we should relate to the Old Covenant and what we should do with it. The Bible answers this question in the fourth chapter of Galatians.

The Christians in Galatia had allowed false teachers, Judaizers, to convince them that they were obligated to keep parts of the Old Covenant. Paul dispels this serious heresy by telling an allegory.

Galatians 4:21-25 (NASB)

²¹ Tell me, you who want to be under law, do you not listen to the law?
²² For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the bondwoman and one by the free woman.
²³ But the son by the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and the son by the free woman through the promise.
²⁴ This is allegorically speaking, for these women are two covenants: one proceeding from Mount Sinai bearing children who are to be slaves; she is Hagar.
²⁵ Now this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children.

Paul leaves little doubt as to exactly what he is talking about here. We discovered earlier that the Decalogue was given to the people alive at the exodus at Mount Sinai (Deut. 5:3) and that the Decalogue was the covenant document (Deut. 4:13, 9:10-11, 9:15, and 10:4). Paul now uses Hagar to represent the covenant given at Sinai and uses allegorical language to say that those who are under the covenant from Sinai are in slavery. Now contrast this with his description of the New Covenant.

Galatians 4:21-28 (NASB)

²⁶ But the Jerusalem above is free; she is our mother.
²⁷ For it is written, "REJOICE, BARREN WOMAN WHO DOES NOT BEAR; BREAK FORTH AND SHOUT, YOU WHO ARE NOT IN LABOR; FOR MORE NUMEROUS ARE THE CHILDREN OF THE DESOLATE THAN OF THE ONE WHO HAS A HUSBAND."
²⁸ And you brethren, like Isaac, are children of promise.

Those who are under the New Covenant are free. They should rejoice because they are the children of promise. Unfortunately, there will always be those who try to steal that joy.

Galatians 4:29 (NASB)

²⁹ But as at that time he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so it is now also.

I think those of us who have faced the transition out of Adventism could echo Paul’s words here and heartily say, “So it is now also”. It seems that that many of those who want to be under law also want others to be in bondage as well. As it was in Paul’s day, so it is now also. So what are we to do with the Old Covenant and those who teach it and try to put us under it? The Bible tells us in no uncertain terms in the very next verse.

Galatians 4:30-31 (NASB)

³⁰ But what does the Scripture say? "CAST OUT THE BONDWOMAN AND HER SON, FOR THE SON OF THE BONDWOMAN SHALL NOT BE AN HEIR WITH THE SON OF THE FREE WOMAN."
³¹ So then, brethren, we are not children of a bondwoman, but of the free woman.

SDAs are not the only group who would try to put New Covenant Christians under the Covenant document engraved on stone at Sinai. But the Bible tells us in no uncertain terms that we are to have no part of such Judaizing because we are not in bondage, but are free! Cast out the bondwoman and her son! What blessing and joy we have as children of the free woman! Let us rejoice, break forth and shout!

But what if we really, really want to cling to the law? Can we keep one foot in the Old Covenant and one in the New Covenant?

Next time we will answer that question with yet another biblical illustration.

A Study of the Covenants – Chapter 4 of 14

2011-02-17T22:16:00.001-05:00

by Chris Lee, published at Life Assurance Ministries website http://www.lifeassuranceministries.org/studies/covenants/index.html

II Corinthians Chapters 3 and 4

In the last chapter we saw that the Old Covenant began at Sinai and was made with those who were alive at the time of the exodus, not their ancestors. We also read the prophecy of Jeremiah foretelling a New Covenant that would be different from the Old Covenant. In this chapter I would like to begin our examination of the ways in which the New Covenant is fundamentally different from the Old Covenant.

We will now spend our time reviewing the entire third chapter of II Corinthians and the first part of chapter four. In II Corinthians 3, Paul refers to the two covenants as two “ministries”. He compares and contrasts the covenant “engraved on stone” with the New Covenant. As we go through the chapter, I would like to recommend the following:

1. Pray for the Holy Spirit to teach and guide you. Pray that He will show you truth and guard you against error. Pray that if there is any veil in place that the Holy Spirit will remove it in Christ.

2. Carefully read through the third chapter of II Corinthians for overall context. You may want to read through a couple of different reliable translations.

3. Now grab a pencil and paper. At the top of your paper write “Old Covenant” on the left side and “New Covenant” on the right side forming two columns. As you read through II Corinthians 3 again, take time to carefully list everything you learn about each covenant in the appropriate column. List everything even if it seems insignificant.

4. Review the list and pray over the things that the Holy Spirit has pointed out to you. As additional insights come to you, you may want to jot these down as well.

2 Corinthians 3:1-18 (NASB)

¹ Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, as some, letters of commendation to you or from you?
² You are our letter, written in our hearts, known and read by all men;
³ being manifested that you are a letter of Christ, cared for by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.
⁴ Such confidence we have through Christ toward God.
⁵ Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God,
⁶ who also made us adequate as servants of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
⁷ But if the ministry of death, in letters engraved on stones, came with glory, so that the sons of Israel could not look intently at the face of Moses because of the glory of his face, fading as it was,
⁸ how will the ministry of the Spirit fail to be even more with glory?
⁹ For if the ministry of condemnation has glory, much more does the ministry of righteousness abound in glory.
¹⁰ For indeed what had glory, in this case has no glory because of the glory that surpasses it.
¹¹ For if that which fades away was with glory, much more that which remains is in glory.
¹² Therefore having such a hope, we use great boldness in our speech,
¹³ and are not like Moses, who used to put a veil over his face so that the sons of Israel would not look intently at the end of what was fading away.
¹⁴ But their minds were hardened; for until this very day at the reading of the old covenant the same veil remains unlifted, because it is removed in Christ.
¹⁵ But to this day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their heart;
¹⁶ but whenever a person turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.
¹⁷ Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
¹⁸ But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.

I would really like to recommend that you do the exercise I suggested above for yourself. I think you will find it fascinating to see your discoveries in black and white. However, if you would like to see the list that I came up with, I have provided it here.

If your list looks anything like mine, then I think you will agree that this is a pretty shocking passage when you really begin to break it down and compare the two covenants.

The apostle Paul leaves no doubt as to what this covenant is that he is talking about. He clearly states that it is the covenant that was “engraved on stone”. This can only be the Decalogue exactly as stated in Deut. 4:13, 9:10-11, 9:15, and 10:4. And yet Paul says the Old Covenant, the Decalogue, “fades away”! Not only that, but he refers to the Old Covenant as the “ministry of death” and the “ministry of condemnation”. He even says that it “kills”!

Contrast this to the New Covenant which gives life, is much more glorious, gives liberty, and remains after the Old Covenant has passed away. Given all this, which covenant do you want to be under?

Before wrapping up Part IV of our study, let’s revisit the last seven versus of chapter 3 and continue into the next 6 versus of chapter four. I believe you will see that chapter 4 flows from chapter 3 and continues the same line of thought.

2 Corinthians 3:12-4:6 (NASB)

¹² Therefore having such a hope, we use great boldness in our speech,
¹³ and are not like Moses, who used to put a veil over his face so that the sons of Israel would not look intently at the end of what was fading away.
¹⁴ But their minds were hardened; for until this very day at the reading of the old covenant the same veil remains unlifted, because it is removed in Christ.
¹⁵ But to this day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their heart;
¹⁶ but whenever a person turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.
¹⁷ Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
¹⁸ But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.
¹ Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we received mercy, we do not lose heart,
² but we have renounced the things hidden because of shame, not walking in craftiness or adulterating the word of God, but by the manifestation of truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.
³ And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing,
⁴ in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
⁵ For we do not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your bond-servants for Jesus' sake.
⁶ For God, who said, "Light shall shine out of darkness," is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.

Notice that Paul says when the Old Covenant is read there is a veil that remains unlifted. When people focus on the Old Covenant, on the Decalogue, there is a spiritual veil that prevents them from seeing the full glory of the Gospel of Christ. Paul refers to those who are in their veiled state as “perishing” and goes so far as to say it is the “god of this world” (Satan) who is blinding them.

Truly this dire warning ought to give us a great heart for SDA family, friends, and loved ones. If we have such a heart we should be praying passionately and regularly that they will be released from their blindness and that the veil will be removed the only way it can be, in Christ.

In the next chapter we will continue to compare and contrast the Old and New Covenants by delving into an allegory that will answer the question of how we should relate to the Old Covenant.

A Study of the Covenants – Chapter 3 of 14

2011-02-17T22:09:00.001-05:00

by Chris Lee, published at Life Assurance Ministries website http://www.lifeassuranceministries.org/studies/covenants/index.html

The Old Covenant (continued)

Last time we saw the Old/Mosaic Covenant had the following elements:

Promise – a) God’s special people b) The Land
Condition – Obedience
Sign – Sabbath observance

We also reviewed a number of texts (Deut. 4:13, 9:10-11, 9:15, 10:4)showing that the eser dabar (literally “Ten Words” or “Decalogue”) were the covenant document. The Decalogue was structured like an ancient near east covenant document, written on two tablets with the sign of the covenant at the center of the document. Even its name is consistent with it being a covenant document.

Unfortunately, our English invention of “Ten Commandments” confuses the fact that the Hebrew Old Testament never uses that terminology. Our English phrase masks the fact that the Hebrew term eser dabar (full form isaseret haddebarim) is legal language for a covenant document. Therefore, throughout the rest of this study I will attempt to use more biblical language by referring to the Old Covenant document as either “The Ten Words” or the Latin form of the phrase “The Decalogue” (Deca = ten & logue = word).

I’d like to continue by examining when the Old Covenant was given and with whom it was made. In Deuteronomy chapter 5, Moses repeats the words of the Covenant, the Decalogue. He leads into this with the following statement:

Deuteronomy 5:1-3 (NASB)

¹ Then Moses summoned all Israel and said to them: "Hear, O Israel, the statutes and the ordinances which I am speaking today in your hearing, that you may learn them and observe them carefully.
² "The LORD our God made a covenant with us at Horeb [Sinai].
³ "The LORD did not make this covenant with our fathers, but with us, with all those of us alive here today.

We’re told that God made the covenant at Sinai. It was made with those who were alive at that time, not with their ancestors who had come before. This is a problem for SDA theology which says that the Sabbath (the sign of the covenant) was being observed by people prior to the exodus. To deal with this problem, SDAs have dramatically altered this text to make it say something entirely different in their Clear Word Bible:

Deut. 5:3 (Clear Word Bible)

³ It wasn't only with our ancestors that He made a covenant, but with us and with all who are alive today.

This appears to be a deliberate distortion of the word of God in order to support the idea that Sabbath observance by human beings preceded the exodus. The author of the Clear Word Bible evidently found this necessary since there is not direct Biblical evidence for such an assertion.

Although we see God resting after His work of creating, there is no recorded command for any human being to do so prior to the exodus. There is no mention of Adam or Eve ever observing Sabbath. There is no mention of Cain or Abel observing Sabbath. There is no mention of anyone in the godly line of Seth ever observing Sabbath. There is no mention of Enoch, who walked with God, observing Sabbath. There is no mention of Methuselah observing Sabbath. There is no mention of Noah observing Sabbath. There is no mention of any of Noah’s sons observing Sabbath. There is no mention of Job, who lived at about the time of the patriarchs, ever observing Sabbath. There is no mention of Abraham, who was taken out of an idolatrous background, ever observing Sabbath or being instructed in Sabbath observance. There is no mention of Isaac ever observing Sabbath. There is no mention of Jacob or Esau ever observing Sabbath. There is no mention of Joseph ever observing Sabbath. There is no mention of any of Joseph’s brothers ever observing Sabbath. There is no mention of any of the Israelites observing Sabbath while in Egypt.

In fact, the word “Sabbath” is never used in the entire book of Genesis or in the first 15 chapters of Exodus! It is not until the Israelites are freed from Egypt and are headed towards Sinai (Ex. 16) that we first see the word Sabbath used in the Bible. As the Israelites approach Sinai we see God begin to teach them about the sign of the covenant that He will give them at Sinai. It seems clear that this is a new concept to the Israelites and that Moses must explain to them. This is the very first time we see any human being instructed to keep Sabbath. There is no record of any human being doing so prior to the Israelites making their way toward Sinai. This is in perfect harmony with other parts of scripture:

Nehemiah 9:13-14 (NASB)

¹³ "Then You came down on Mount Sinai, And spoke with them from heaven; You gave them just ordinances and true laws, Good statutes and commandments.
¹⁴ "So You made known to them Your holy sabbath, And laid down for them commandments, statutes and law, Through Your servant Moses.

Given the lack of biblical evidence for the sign of the covenant being observed prior to the exodus, and the strong biblical evidence for the covenant first being given to those who were at Sinai, not their ancestors, it is easy to see why the author of the Clear Word Bible felt it necessary to alter Deut. 5:3 to preserve his theology.

So if the covenant had its beginning at Sinai, it raises the question, “Does the Old Covenant also have an end?” It appears that the Old Covenant was temporary. It had a beginning and would also have an end as prophesied by the prophet Jeremiah.

Jeremiah 31:31-34 (NASB)

³¹ "Behold, days are coming," declares the LORD, "when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah,
³² not like the covenant which I made with their fathers in the day I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, although I was a husband to them," declares the LORD.
³³ "But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days," declares the LORD, "I will put My law within them and on their heart I will write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.
³⁴ "They will not teach again, each man his neighbor and each man his brother, saying, 'Know the LORD,' for they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them," declares the LORD, "for I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more."

Jeremiah prophesied that God would make a New Covenant, not like the old one. We’re told that God’s law will be within the heart. We’re not told at this point exactly what that law entails, only that whatever the covenant entails, it’s not like the Old Covenant. That is, the New Covenant is not like the Decalogue (see part II, the Decalogue is the covenant document). Whatever this covenant is, it will be fundamentally different in some way.

Next time we will begin to compare and contrast the Old and New Covenants and see just how different they truly are according to scripture. The New truly is new!

A Study of the Covenants – Chapter 2 of 14

2011-02-17T22:01:00.001-05:00

by Chris Lee, published at Life Assurance Ministries website http://www.lifeassuranceministries.org/studies/covenants/index.html

The Mosaic (Old) Covenant

Last time we learned that covenants usually have a promise or promises and a sign. Some covenants are conditional and some are unconditional. We briefly looked at two biblical covenants, the Noahic Covenant and the Abrahamic Covenant.

This time we will turn our attention to the most prominent covenant in the Old Testament, the Mosaic Covenant, also known as the Old Covenant. In fact, when we use the term “Old Testament” we are referring primarily to the Mosaic/Old Covenant.

The Greek word diatheke can be translated into English as either “covenant” or “testament”. The English words “covenant” and “testament” are used almost interchangeably in the KJV, e.g. the KJV in one place translates as “Ark of the Covenant (diatheke)” and at another place translates as “Ark of the Testament (diatheke)”. So when we are talking about “Testaments” we’re really talking about “Covenants”. We have divided our Bibles in reference to the two most prominent Covenants in the scriptures.

Let’s take a look at the Mosaic/Old Covenant and see if we can distinguish the promise, condition, and sign.

Exodus 19:3-6 (NASB)

³ Moses went up to God, and the LORD called to him from the mountain, saying, "Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob and tell the sons of Israel:
⁴ 'You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles' wings, and brought you to Myself.
⁵ 'Now then, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be My own possession among all the peoples, for all the earth is Mine;
⁶and you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.' These are the words that you shall speak to the sons of Israel."

Exodus 31:12-18 (NASB)

¹²The LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
¹³"But as for you, speak to the sons of Israel, saying, 'You shall surely observe My sabbaths; for this is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am the LORD who sanctifies you.
¹⁴'Therefore you are to observe the sabbath, for it is holy to you. Everyone who profanes it shall surely be put to death; for whoever does any work on it, that person shall be cut off from among his people.
¹⁵'For six days work may be done, but on the seventh day there is a sabbath of complete rest, holy to the LORD; whoever does any work on the sabbath day shall surely be put to death.
¹⁶'So the sons of Israel shall observe the sabbath, to celebrate the sabbath throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant.'
¹⁷"It is a sign between Me and the sons of Israel forever; for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, but on the seventh day He ceased from labor, and was refreshed."
¹⁸When He had finished speaking with him upon Mount Sinai, He gave Moses the two tablets of the testimony, tablets of stone, written by the finger of God.

So we see that the promise of the Old Covenant was that the descendents of Jacob would be God’s special people, a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation. The condition of the covenant was obedience. Conversely, we see at many points in the Old Testament that if the Israelites disobey they will be driven out of the Land. Finally, we see that the sign of the covenant is Sabbath observance. To summarize:

Old Covenant:

Promise: a) God’s special people b) The Land
Condition: Obedience
Sign: Sabbath observance

So what specifically was the covenant? What were the very words of the covenant? Read the following text and ask yourself what the text says the covenant was.

Deuteronomy 4:13 (NASB)

¹³"So He declared to you His covenant which He commanded you to perform, that is, the Ten Commandments; and He wrote them on two tablets of stone.

This text clearly states the covenant was specifically the eser dabar (literally “Ten Words” or “Decalogue”. Let’s look at another text. As you read it ask yourself again what the text says the covenant was.

Deuteronomy 9:10-11 (NASB)

¹⁰"The LORD gave me the two tablets of stone written by the finger of God; and on them were all the words which the LORD had spoken with you at the mountain from the midst of the fire on the day of the assembly.
¹¹"It came about at the end of forty days and nights that the LORD gave me the two tablets of stone, the tablets of the covenant.

This text also confirms that the words on the stone tablets of the Decalogue (ten words) were the covenant. Let’s look at another text for further confirmation.

Deuteronomy 9:15 (NASB)

¹⁵"So I turned and came down from the mountain while the mountain was burning with fire, and the two tablets of the covenant were in my two hands.

Again we see that the Decalogue was the covenant. I believe we could cite several more texts yet, but let’s just look at one last one.

Exodus 32:15 (NASB)

¹⁵Then Moses turned and went down from the mountain with the two tablets of the testimony in his hand, tablets which were written on both sides; they were written on one side and the other.

Here we get an interesting fact. Unlike the artist renderings we are used to seeing, the tablets of the Decalogue were not just written on one side, but on front and back. This is consistent with what we know of ancient near east covenant documents. These documents were often written on the front and back of tablets with two identical copies produced. One copy would go in the temple of the suzerain while the other copy would go in the temple of the vassal. Many biblical scholars believe that the two tablets of the Decalogue were actually two copies of the same Ten Words written front and back. In this case, because God (the suzerain) dwelt in the temple in the midst of His people (the vassals), both copies went into one temple.

In addition, we know that the sign of the covenant was usually inscribed in the very center of the covenant document. This is also consistent with the order of the Decalogue.

In Chapter 3 we will continue our examination of the Old (Mosaic)

A Study of the Covenants – Chapter 1 of 14

2011-02-17T21:49:00.002-05:00

by Chris Lee, published at Life Assurance Ministries website http://www.lifeassuranceministries.org/studies/covenants/index.html

Introduction

Growing up in Seventh-day Adventism, I was taught what is often referred to as the “proof-texting” method of Biblical interpretation. Because I used the Bible in a very fragmented way to support my own preconceived notions, I never had any real feel for the flow of scripture and how it all fit together.

All this changed when I began to read and study whole books of the Bible in context and then began to read through the entire Bible. What instantly leaped out at me from the pages of scripture was the way in which the entire narrative was structured and defined by covenants. It suddenly dawned on me that redemptive history could not be fully understood without understanding the covenants that God had made with His people.

Understanding the Biblical covenants opened the scriptures up to me in a way I had never experienced. Suddenly, I could see a beautiful arc across all of scripture. No longer were the scriptures a bunch of fragmented texts used for proving a doctrine. Now I could see God at work through the ages with all things pointing to the person and work of Jesus Christ. The realization that all the scriptures, both Testaments, are all about Jesus revolutionized my understanding of the Word.

This Bible study is designed to provide an outline overview of the two major covenants in scripture. Because the material covers nearly the entire Bible, it is not possible to present an absolutely exhaustive study of every book and chapter dealing with the covenants. I will be presenting texts and passages that I believe provide the basic facts and structure of the covenants. However, because of the danger of falling into the “proof-texting” trap, I strongly recommend that readers progress through this study with an open Bible. It is my hope that readers will not settle for only reading the texts I have quoted, but that they will conduct a much more extensive investigation that includes reading the surrounding chapters for context. I would especially encourage readers to read through entire books that are extensively quoted, such as Romans and Galatians. The key to avoiding proof-texting is context, context, context! I challenge every reader to read beyond the quotes in this study to absolutely assure that all quotes are fully in context.

Background:

The first step to understanding the Bible is to understand its historical context. In the case of covenants it is vital to understand that covenants were common in the near east during biblical times. Covenants were frequently used to establish lordship. A suzerain would make a covenant with his vassals that normally contained three parts:

Promise
Condition
Sign

The promise might be something like the suzerain promising not to kill the conquered vassals. Although some covenants might be unconditional, i.e. the vassal would do what he would do regardless, most held some sort of condition for fulfilling the promise. So the suzerain might promise not to kill the conquered vassals if they provided him with a yearly tribute of grain and wine. The covenant was usually ratified with blood and a sign was setup as a way of showing that the vassals were in the covenant with the suzerain. The sign was often arbitrary and could be just about anything such as an earring in the left ear, an ankle bracelet, or almost any other external sign.

So, with this background in mind, let’s see if we can find the major elements in a couple of Biblical covenants. Let’s start with an easy one. The Noahic Covenant was an unconditional covenant. It did not depend on the vassals (men). The suzerain (God) sovereignly said what He would do without any condition applied. So we only need to look for a promise and a sign. Read through this passage and see if you can identify a promise and sign before reaching the end of the passage.

Genesis 9:9-17 (NASB)

⁹ "Now behold, I Myself do establish My covenant with you, and with your descendants after you;
¹⁰ and with every living creature that is with you, the birds, the cattle, and every beast of the earth with you; of all that comes out of the ark, even every beast of the earth.
¹¹ "I establish My covenant with you; and all flesh shall never again be cut off by the water of the flood, neither shall there again be a flood to destroy the earth."
¹² God said, "This is the sign of the covenant which I am making between Me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all successive generations;
¹³ I set My bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a sign of a covenant between Me and the earth.
¹⁴ "It shall come about, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow will be seen in the cloud,
¹⁵ and I will remember My covenant, which is between Me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and never again shall the water become a flood to destroy all flesh.
¹⁶ "When the bow is in the cloud, then I will look upon it, to remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth."
¹⁷ And God said to Noah, "This is the sign of the covenant which I have established between Me and all flesh that is on the earth."

So how did you do? You should have discovered the following:

Sign: the rainbow
Promise: all flesh would never again be destroyed by flood

Let’s move on to a more complex covenant. The Abrahamic Covenant is an important covenant as it foreshadows a covenant to come. I believe you will be able to find a two part promise, a condition, and a sign. Give it a try.

Genesis 15:5-7 (NASB)

⁵ And He took him outside and said, "Now look toward the heavens, and count the stars, if you are able to count them." And He said to him, "So shall your descendants be."
⁶ Then he believed in the LORD; and He reckoned it to him as righteousness.
⁷ And He said to him, "I am the LORD who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans, to give you this land to possess it."

Genesis 17:10-11 (NASB)

¹⁰ "This is My covenant, which you shall keep, between Me and you and your descendants after you: every male among you shall be circumcised.
¹¹ "And you shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskin, and it shall be the sign of the covenant between Me and you.

So were you able to find all three parts of the covenant? Here’s what I have:

Promise: a) Many descendants b) possess the land
Condition: Belief
Sign: Circumcision

As an added note I think I should point out that some would refer to the Abrahamic Covenant as an "unconditional" covenant because God simply says what He will sovereignly do. I have no problem with this and understand the rationale. However, Genesis 15 strongly implies that the promises of this covenant were conditioned upon faith. At the very least we can say that faith, not works, is the basis of this covenant.

Next time we will compare and contrast this with the first of the two main Biblical covenants.